Acts 8:32
in Acts 8The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
KJV
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
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This verse in Acts 8
Commentary
15 notes on this verseThe place of the Scripture which he read was this,.... Or the paragraph or section of Scripture; that part of it in which he was reading was Isa 53:7 which shows, that by this time the Scriptures were divided into sections, chapters, and verses; whereas the Jews say the whole law at first was but one verse (t). He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before the shearer.
This site's exposition
He was led like a sheep
on Acts 8:32-33
The passage is Isaiah 53:7 to 8, from the fourth Servant Song, the chapter the New Testament applies to Christ more than any other. The eunuch next asks whom the prophet meant, and Philip answers with Jesus in verse 35.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
But again: Whom did Philip preach to the eunuch of the queen of the Ethiopians, returning from Jerusalem, and reading Esaias the prophet, when he and this man were alone together?
A commentator
Augustine of HippoON THE MERITS AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND ON INFANT BAPTISM 1.54 · Written before 430.
proposed
See how often it stresses this point and teaches this to those who are proud and contentious: "He was a wounded man," it says, "and one who knew how to endure weaknesses; for this reason his face is turned away, bearing injuries and not much appreciated. He bears our infirmities, and he is amid sorrows on our behalf. And we thought that he was suffering sorrows, wounds and punishment. But he was wounded on account of our sins, and he became weak on account of our iniquities. In him we learned of our peace; by his bruises we were healed. We all went astray like sheep, and the Lord handed him over for our sins. And he did not open his mouth because he was mistreated. He was led off like a sheep for sacrifice, and like a lamb before his shearer, he made not a sound; thus he did not open his mouth. His judgment was removed in humility. Who will tell of his generation? For his life will be taken away from the earth. He was brought to death by the iniquities of my people. I will repay evil people on account of his burial and the rich on account of his death, because he did no wrong and had no deceit upon his lips. The Lord wishes to cleanse him of his wound. If you have given your life on account of your sins, you will see offspring with a long life. The Lord wishes to remove his soul from sorrows, to show him the light and form his mind, to justify the righteous one who serves the many well, and he will bear their sins. For this reason he will have many heirs and share the spoils with the mighty, because his soul was handed over to death and he was reckoned as one of the wicked. And he bore the sins of many and was handed over on account of their iniquities."
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him reading; even the fact of his running, showed that he wished to say something. And the place of the Scripture which he read was this: As a sheep He was led to the slaughter. And this circumstance, also, is a token of his elevated mind, that he had in hand this prophet, who is more sublime than all others. Philip does not relate matters to him just as it might happen, but quietly: nay, does not say anything until he is questioned.
He is called a sheep; not a senseless one, but that which cleanses the world from sin by its precious blood, and when led before its shearer knows when to be silent.
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened He not His mouth: in His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth. Observe how it is Providentially ordered. First he reads and does not understand; then he reads the very text in which was the Passion and the Resurrection and the Gift.
8 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
From this point the voluntary act of the Savior is signified in the trial of those being allotted with. For as a sheep led to sacrifice, or a lamb before the one who shaves it (forced and subdued, it does not even have the capacity …
The Medieval Church3 voices
As a sheep led to the slaughter. Just as a sheep, when led to sacrifice, does not resist, so he suffered of his own free will. Or in a higher sense, just as the lamb was accustomed to be sacrificed at Passover, so Christ, our …
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent. He not only redeemed us with his blood but also covered us with his wool, so that we, shivering in our unbelief, might be warmed by his garment, and we might hear the Apostle speaking to …
"Like a sheep, He was led to the slaughter." The meaning of the words cited is very clear, because at a certain time sheep are led away for shearing and the shepherds lay upon them the instruments of shearing, yet the sheep endure this and …
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The place ... - Isa 53:7-8. He was led ... - This quotation is taken literally from the Septuagint. It varies very little from the Hebrew. It has been almost universally understood that this place refers to the Messiah; and Philip expressly applies it to him. The word “was led” ἤχθη ēchthē implies that he was conducted by others; that he was led as a sheep is led to be killed.
HOW THIS NEGRO CHAMBERLAIN of the Queen of Ethiopia came to be a proselyte we do not know. The book which he was so fond of reading may have been the means of leading him to worship the God of Abraham, certainly it has answered that purpose thousands of times. At any rate, he followed the light he had, and though he had not yet come to the full glory of Christianity, it was more than probable that he would do so, because he was evidently prepared to follow truth wherever her flaming torch should lead the way.
HOW THIS NEGRO CHAMBERLAIN of the Queen of Ethiopia came to be a proselyte we do not know. The book which he was so fond of reading may have been the means of leading him to worship the God of Abraham, certainly it has answered that purpose thousands of times. At any rate, he followed the light he had, and though he had not yet come to the full glory of Christianity, it was more than probable that he would do so, because he was evidently prepared to follow truth wherever her flaming torch should lead the way. Oh, that there were more candour among men in these latter days, and less of the prejudice which puts scales upon the eyes of the mind! Be true to truth as it comes to you. If God gives you only common candle-light, make good use of it; and he will trim your lamp till it shineth like the sevenfold golden light of his holy place. Those who are willing to see God by the moon of nature shall soon be illuminated by the sun of revelation. Instead of complaining that you have no more light, make good use of what you have. Many groan over their inabilities, and yet they have never gone to the end of their abilities: this is sheer hypocrisy. Having become a proselyte to the faith of Israel, the eunuch made a long and perilous journey to Jerusalem. After he had enjoyed the solemn feast he returned; and while he traveled along, he read the word of God. The book of the prophet Isaiah was the portion chosen or his meditation. Does it not strike you as being remarkable that he should be reading at that moment the best text that Philip could have selected? He had reached a portion of Scripture from which, without the slightest digression, the evangelist preached unto him Jesus as the slain lamb, the willing sacrifice for guilty men. The like conjunction of providence and the Holy Spirit constantly occurs in conversions.
The place of the scripture - Περιοχη της γραφης, The section, or paragraph.
The words behind it
28 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | Now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| περιοχὴ | perioche | the passage | G4042 → | |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γραφῆς | graphes | Scripture | G1124 → | 49 times |
| ἣν | hen | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἀνεγίνωσκεν | aneginosken | he was reading | G314 → | 32 times |
| ἦν | en | was | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| αὕτη· | haute | this: | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ὡς | hos | As | G5613 → | 500 times |
| πρόβατον | probaton | a sheep | G4263 → | |
| ἐπὶ | epi | to | G1909 → | 883 times |
| σφαγὴν | sphagen | slaughter | G4967 → | |
| ἤχθη, | echthe | He was led, | G71 → | 68 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἀμνὸς | amnos | a lamb | G286 → | |
| ἐναντίον | enantion | before | G1726 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | the [one who] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κείραντος | keirantos | shearing | G2751 → | |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἄφωνος, | aphonos | [is] silent, | G880 → | |
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἀνοίγει | anoigei | He opens | G455 → | 77 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| στόμα | stoma | mouth | G4750 → | 78 times |
| αὐτοῦ. | autou | of Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
δὲNow
deG1161 →2765 times
περιοχὴthe passage
periocheG4042 →
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
γραφῆςScripture
graphesG1124 →49 times
ἣνwhich
henG3739 →1405 times
ἀνεγίνωσκενhe was reading
aneginoskenG314 →32 times
ἦνwas
enG1510 →2333 times
αὕτη·this:
hauteG3778 →1381 times
ὡςAs
hosG5613 →500 times
πρόβατονa sheep
probatonG4263 →
ἐπὶto
epiG1909 →883 times
σφαγὴνslaughter
sphagenG4967 →
ἤχθη,He was led,
echtheG71 →68 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ἀμνὸςa lamb
amnosG286 →
ἐναντίονbefore
enantionG1726 →
τοῦthe [one who]
touG3588 →19766 times
κείραντοςshearing
keirantosG2751 →
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
ἄφωνος,[is] silent,
aphonosG880 →
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἀνοίγειHe opens
anoigeiG455 →77 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
στόμαmouth
stomaG4750 →78 times
αὐτοῦ.of Him.
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 8:36As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
it leads to
- Psalms 44:22
Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not…
- 1 Corinthians 15:30
And why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
- 2 Corinthians 4:10–11
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- 1 Corinthians 4:9
For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as…
- Psalms 44:22
Through
Jeremiah 11:19For I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter; I did not know that they had plotted against me: “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit; let us cut him off from…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 20:10
For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that…
- Isaiah 53:7–8
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not…
- Psalms 83:4
saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
- Jeremiah 20:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies14
On this verse
About Acts
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, ON THE MERITS AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND ON INFANT BAPTISM 1.54; Bede, Commentary on Acts; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1792: “Understandest Thou What Thou Readest?” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 10.3; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book III; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.